Ocean Productivity Pertubation EXperiment(OPPEX)

OPPEX-I Final Report

The Ocean Productivity Perturbation EXperiment (OPPEX-I) was a
field experiment designed to test the Karl and Letelier
hypothesis, namely that deep nutrient rich water with excess
phosphorus relative to nitrogen compared to the Redfield ratio of
16N:1P, upwelled into the photic zone would stimulate a two stage
phytoplankton bloom. This hypothesis may be a more general
mechanism to explain the observed enigmatic summertime blooms
that develop near Station ALOHA, 22o 45'N,
158o 00'W.

This experiment utilized commercially available Atmocean
Wave Driven Ocean Upwelling Pumps. This commercial technology has
not been extensively field tested so this was a true test of the
technology. We conducted two research cruises aboard the R/V Kilo
Moana spaced eleven days apart to test this hypothesis.

This report provides a detailed discussion of the operations,
results including science and engineering, the future, cruise
reports, and the abstract to a manuscript currently being
prepared.